Ridge Creek containment up to 25%

Containment of the Ridge Creek Fire, 3.5 miles east of the north tip of Hayden Lake, was 25% Friday, with more than 4,300 acres burned since the fire began Aug. 3.

“Crews worked to secure the perimeter along Sage Creek Saddle and Forest Road 406,” said Mary Fritz, a public information officer with the Southern Area Incident Management Gold Team, which has been assigned to the fire.

The acreage has changed slightly over the past few days due to better mapping, with very little growth, public information officer Brook Smith said.

The containment line extended north along the southwestern perimeter of the fire, beginning to encircle the bottom edge along the flames, Fritz said in a phone interview.

Crews were also engaged in building line breaks toward the northwestern perimeter, according to a news release Friday.

To pursue an opportunity to confront and attack the flames directly, crews worked on a dozer line with fuel chipping along the northwest perimeter at Forest Service Road 406 and Sage Creek Saddle.

Multiple efforts were also made along Bunco Road to secure indirect fire lines away from the flames.

“Initial attack resources and engines continue inventorying structures along the Bunco Road and are ensuring defensive efforts around homes are thorough,” according to the press release.

On the eastern edge, in rougher terrain, efforts continued at some distance from the fire’s edge.

“The division to the east has all their resources, crews and heavy equipment working on indirect line to hold the fire’s progression,” the release continued.

The indirect line could take several more shifts to complete.

"The last few days we’ve identified a couple more opportunities to come in a little closer to the fire, pick up the fire edge and work in a little bit,” operations trainee Rocky Beery said in a video briefing Friday. “Our goal is to pick up this where we can, where it’s safe for firefighters, and secure that west side.”

The evacuation status is at Level 2 — Get Set — in the Bunco Road area. Residents are encouraged to have a plan in place to relocate livestock and large animals.

Information is available at www.kcsheriff.com/186/Emergency-Management.

Intermittent rainstorms in the county were helpful Friday, but weather over the weekend is expected to be hot and dry, drying fuels and increasing fire activity or smoke over the weekend.

Air quality information is available at www.airnow.gov and www.wildlandfiresmoke.net.

Flight restrictions are in place so residents are asked not to have any drones in the air near the burn areas. Drones ground air support and can hinder suppression efforts.

Stage II burn restrictions are also in place, so any burning is prohibited in the five northern counties, including smoking on forest roads or use of internal combustion engines like chain saws or two-stroke engines on forest roads.

The Forest Service Roads around the flames are also closed to residents. For a full list of closures, visit www.fs.usda.gov/alerts.

Gray Fire

The Gray Fire began near Gray Road in Medical Lake and quickly spread to the east and southeast through Medical Lake and across Interstate 90. The town of Medical Lake and multiple surrounding areas were evacuated and sections of I-90 were closed but are now open.

The fire was estimated Friday to involve 10,016 acres and to be 68% contained. It has destroyed an estimated 185 structures and is blamed for two fatalities.

"Firefighters are working within the interior of the burned area to perform structure assessments, fall hazard trees, suppress hot spots and secure structure perimeters," said an update from Gray Fire incident management personnel.

Oregon Road Fire

The Oregon Road Fire started Aug. 18 near E. Oregon Road, in Elk, Wash., north of Spokane, about 16 miles south of Newport and 15 miles west of Blanchard.

The fire was estimated Friday to involve 11,063 acres with 16% containment. It has destroyed more than 80 structures and is blamed for one fatality.

For the most up-to-date evacuation information and maps for the Spokane County fires, visit www.facebook.com/GEGEmergencyMgt.

To donate to wildfire relief and recovery efforts

STCU's Here for Good foundation at Innovia is accepting donations that will go directly to wildfire relief and recovery efforts throughout the region.

The credit union has seeded the effort with a $50,000 donation and Washington Trust Bank, Premera Blue Cross and the Innovia Foundation have joined STCU in committing $50,000 each to support local wildlife relief efforts.

The proceeds will be administered through local nonprofit organizations to support rebuild and recovery efforts in local communities.

To make a tax-deductible donation, visit innovia.org/stcu-here-for-good-foundation.